CHAPTER XXXII
THE LOVERS MEET
New York. Gerald bade farewell to his companion, who pressed him, ifever he returned to England again, to pay him a visit, and they parted.
Gerald's first act, after fixing on a train at the railway station, wasto send a wire to Depew.
Have succeeded in every way. Coming by train, arriving Oakville at six. Let Tessie meet me with trap.
GERALD DANVERS.
And Tessie was there to meet him--Tessie, bright, bonnie, and expectant.
Their eyes spoke, but they just shook hands quietly and then drove away.
When they reached the country road, away from people, Gerald took holdof the reins, and pulled the horses up.
"What's that for?"
"Comfort, Tessie. You have just got to give me the biggest kisses you'recapable of giving, and I don't like them in a jolting cart."
"Gerald!"
"That's it. Now another. I can do with another. Greedy, eh? Why, Ihaven't had a kiss all the time I have been away."
"I should hope not!"
"Little woman, I've come back so full of joy--and I may say ofmoney--that I wonder my feelings aren't too much for me. I wonder Idon't burst."
"Is it true, Gerald--all of it? Dad told us when he got your wire."
"What did he say?"
"Well, when he opened it and read it, he said, 'Hallelujah!'"
"That's the old man right enough."
"Then he told us that you had been over for nineteen thousand pounds,and that you said you were bringing them with you."
"That was so."
"And is it true, Gerald? True that you have nineteen thousand poundsabout you now?"
"Feel right here, lassie."
"Your heart?"
"No, you can't feel that--you've had it for weeks past."
"Don't be foolish, Gerald."
"Feel there--my vest."
"Paper."
"That's it--wrapped up in more paper--there's nineteen of them, each fora thousand pounds."
"My!"
"Wants some swallowing, doesn't it? That's what I went across the pondfor, to get that money for your dad."
"So he said."
"And before I went I bargained how I was to be paid for my work. I madehim promise to give me--you."
"So he said."
"'Pears to me he has told you 'most all there is to tell."
"He had never said a word to mother or to me till your wire came. But hewas full enough of talk then."
"Trust the old man for that. When he pops the cork out you can hearhim."
"He says that if it had not been for you, he never would have seen adollar of the money."
"That's so. Sounds egotistical, but I don't sorter reckon he would."
"He's mapped out what he's going to do with part of it."
"Hasn't lost any time!"
"He's not going to give you any of it."
"Don't want it. I've got his word that he'll give you to me, and that'senough for me to handle. I am counting on finding you a handful."
"I'm sure!"
"Old man's a man of his word; he won't go away from it. Our two beatinghearts are going to be made one, Tessie, just as soon as a parson cantie us up."
"I don't see any reason for hurry!"
"Your sight's bad! We'll have to see to it."
"But you haven't asked what he's doing with the part of the money Ireferred to."
"Don't want to know. Don't care a mosquito's wing what he does with it.I plank those notes into his hand, and I say, 'Farmer, there's your partof the bargain,' then I step across to you and I say, 'and I think thisis mine?' Farmer he agrees, and you and I----"
"But Gerald, darling----"
"That's right; you keep on calling me 'darling.' It sounds realsweet--just like molasses--coming from your lips."
"I wish you would be sensible for a minute."
"Couldn't, Tessie, if I tried. I've earned you, my girl, and you'remine, mine, mine!"
"Gerald, don't scream out like that!"
"Don't care. There's only the dicky birds to hear, and it won't frightenthem. Catch up the reins, lassie, steer for the farm, let me unload mycargo, and have the right to claim you for first mate on our voyagethrough life."
"Gerald! I never saw you so silly."
"Ain't I? I own up. I'm just oozing stupidity at every pore. Gimme akiss, or I'll stop the horse again."
"How rough you are, Gerald!"
"Ain't I? Gimme another. And another. Hallo! What's the mare stoppedfor? Gee up! Don't you know you've got a bride and bridegroom behindyou? Don't you know the wedding march? Gee up, anyway."
"Gerald! Do be quiet. I want to tell you something."
"Fire away."
"About that money."
"Yes?"
"Dad's going to give me some."
"Well?"
"How much do you think?"
"Dunno--don't care."
"Nine thousand pounds."
"Get away! What are you giving us?"
"Fact. He's not going to give you a cent. He says he promised to give meto you, and he'll settle on me as a wedding portion the odd half."
"He's a thorough, regular, kiln dried brick!"
"Nine thousand pounds, Gerald!"
"Don't seem as if there could be so much money in the world, Tessie,does it? There's a capital for us to start a life partnership on!"
"As the capitalist partner, I shall keep you in order, my boy."
"You will--you will--I feel it looming."
"You may not be in such a hurry about our marriage after that threat."
"Oh, yes. I am in a greater hurry. I want to get over it."
"You wretch!"
"Ain't I? Biggest wretch on the American continent at this moment.Hullo, Tessie! I didn't see the crape round your sleeve. Who's dead?"
"Poor old Susan."
"No!"
"Yes; she died the second week you were away."
"Poor old soul! She nearly sent me to glory, but I bear her no grudge."
"Did you find out, Gerald, whether her husband was really murdered afterall?"
"Not only that, Tessie, but I found who were his two murderers."
"Are they arrested?"
"They were arrested by the hand of death. No earthly judge and jury willtry them. They have to toe the mark before the Judge of All."
"Dead?"
"Yes, and that is all we will say about it. We don't want to talk ofdeath now, Tessie, but of life, the life which is before us, the lifewhich you and I are going to travel in double harness. The life----"
"Take your arm away, Gerald. There's the farm, and mother and father arestanding at the door."
* * * * *
"Hip, hip, hooray, farmer!"
"Come right in, lad, come right in. You, Jim, look after the mare."
"Mother-in-law, give me a kiss."
"I'm sure----"
"It's right, farmer, isn't it? She can kiss her future son-in-law insafety, can't she? I bring you home nineteen thousand pounds, and Tessieand I enter into partnership till death doth us part. Isn't that thebond?"
"Every word of it, sonny, every word. But that money, where is it?"
"Here, right here, farmer; on my beating, palpitating, manly bosom.Mother-in-law that is to be, give me your scissors. No, take 'emyourself. Undo the stitches. There. That's it. 'Open sesame' and out sherolls.
"Brown paper parcel tied with twine. Don't look worth nineteen thousandpounds, does it, farmer? Open the packet, and you will see a sight forsore eyes. Nineteen crisp, crackling, rustling Bank of England notes fora thousand pounds each!"
The trembling fingers of the farmer gripped the scissors, and he cut thetwine. Then he tore off the brown paper and revealed--a piece of foldednewspaper!
For a moment there was a silence, but in that moment a great change cameover those present.
All the hilarity left Gerald. He stood looking at
the packet with surelythe whitest face that ever living man bore. The farmer's clouded to thepitch of blackness, and, bringing his hand down on the table with aforce which made the crockery on the dresser ring again, he blurted out:
"What damned fool's game is this, anyhow?"